Adhesion of Conidia of Drechmeria conliospora to Caenorhabditis elegans Wild Type and Mutants

Hans-Boerje Jansson

Abstract

Adhesion of conidia of the endoparasitic fungus Drechmeria coniospora to the cuticles of the wild type and four different head defective mutants of Caenorhabditis elegam, and subsequent infection, was studied. The conidia adhered around the sensory structures in the head region, vulva, and occasionally to other parts of the cuticle in both mutant and wild type hosts. Infection took place after adhesion to the head region by penetration through the cuticle, and, following adhesion around the vulva, through the natural orifice. Infection was not observed after adhesion to other parts of the cuticle. Adhesion was reduced after treatment of the nematodes with Pronase E. Adhesion returned towards normal again within 2 hours, indicating that the proteinaceous material emanating from the sensory structures was rapidly replaced. Key words: adhesion of conida, biological control, Caenorhabditis elegans, cuticle, Drechmeria coniospora, endoparasite, infection, mutant, nematode, nematophagous fungus, penetration, Pronase E, proteolytic enzyme, sensory structure.